HAVELOCK — A year ago this time, the Havelock Rams were practicing in the school’s gymnasium due to sloppy weather conditions. This year they ended practice almost an hour early for the same reason.

The weather just will not cooperate with Craven County and the first official day of prep football practice.

The Rams are beginning this season just as they began the last — with a giant bull’s-eye on their backs.

Havelock is gunning for its third consecutive 3A state championship, while all other 3A schools are trying to be the one that guns them down.

“Volleyball was in the gym today and we went outside and worked on some formations and little things before cutting it short,” Havelock coach Jim Bob Bryant said. “Today was more mental for the guys.”

Havelock has been preparing for this day for quite some time, since the team’s “Black Reign” conditioning program back in early spring.

“We had a three-day mini camp Monday through Wednesday of workouts and had three great days to make up for today being cut short,” Bryant said. “We like to set our summer up the very same way we do our fall practices and not change a whole lot.”

The Rams were working the JV and varsity units together, alternating on offensive and defensive formations.

Havelock begins its title defense Aug. 23 with a trip to Washington.

Jordan Honeycutt can be reached at 252-635-5670 or at Jordan.Honeycutt@newbernsj.com. Follow Jordan on Twitter @JHONEYnbsj29